ALEXIS, or Alexei Michailovitch, Czar of Russia, the second sovereign of the house of Romanoff, father of Peter I., was one of the most eminent princes of that country. He was born at Moscow in 1630, and died in 1674. See RUSSIA.
ALEXIUS I., the nephew of Isaac Comnenus, the first Byzantine emperor of the family of which Alexius was the most distinguished member. In early life he signalled himself in arms against the enemies of his country; but the mean jealousies of the ministers of the emperor Nicolas III., surnamed Botaniates, drove him to take up arms against a sovereign whose throne he had thrice gallantly defended against powerful insurgent leaders; and he ascended the throne of Constantinople in 1081. His character has been too partially drawn by the pen of his favourite daughter Anna Comnena, who has, however, justly remarked that the disorders of the times were both the misfortune and glory of Alexius, and that he paid the penalty of the judgments of heaven on the vices of his predecessors. In his reign the conquering Turks extended their desolating career from Persia to the Hellespont; on the north the empire was pressed upon by the hordes of barbarians from the Danube; on the west it was assailed by the daring valour of the Normans; while Europe precipitated itself on Asia through the route of Constantinople, in the madness of the first crusade. Amid these storms Alexius steered the reeling vessel of the state with a dexterous and courageous hand, though his policy was by the Latins ascribed to cowardice or treachery. His was undoubtedly a very difficult game, which it required no common ability to bring to a safe conclusion; and he had the policy to derive solid advantages from the wild valour of the crusaders. Yet Alexius outlived the love of his subjects, and their patience was well-nigh exhausted in the latter part of his long reign. The noble families were irritated by the profusion of his numerous relations; the people by his severity and exactions; while the clergy murmured at his unscrupulous application of the wealth of the church to the defence of the state, though they applauded his defence of religion by his eloquence, his pen, and his sword. Alexius died on the 15th of August 1118. (T. S. T.)